Katie Malik
I know Katie through her dad, Dave Robertson. Dave was the founder of Gig Harbor Boat Works. I have rowed thousands of miles in seats or boats of his design, including the boat I've used for most of the tinyboatsessions, a Jersey Skiff, named 'Clarabelle'. I met him at a boat show in 2006. My friends and I were preparing to row across the ocean. Dave wandered up, looked at our unfinished rowboat, and told us he had some seats that might work. That began a relationship that's turned into a friendship with his whole family. His wife Jan, their daughters Jessica, and Katie. His sons-in-law, Falk who runs the shop, and Joey who's worked in the shop (but is now an author and also in the US Army). Katie trained in university for singing, she did all kinds of opera, and has even been in a Swedish reality tv show. I think she even met Joey through music, as that guy can play the saxophone. When the pandemic was starting I reached out to see if she would do a tinyboatsession. She did, with her dad in a boat he had built. Read more about her in her own words from March of 2020. Find her at her website:
"My name is Katie Malik, and I'm a boatbuilder's daughter. I've spent most of my life on and around the water since small rowing & sailing boats were my Dad's livelihood at Gig Harbor Boat Works until he retired a couple of years ago. So even in this time of social distancing, I still find myself drawn to the water. Now, my brother-in-law, Falk manages the boat shop, and fortunately, he and my Dad are often game to join me on the harebrained adventures I come up with. My Dad was happy to have an excuse to take out the 16' Melonseed for a row in the sunshine! I've been an opera singer for about 15 years, and this month is the first time I've ever had a performance canceled or postponed. I was supposed to be rehearsing a role and creating choreography for Tacoma Opera this month, and instead, I find myself singing alone at home. The loss of income is unfortunate, but I find consolation in creating music, not for an audience, but simply for the joy of creating it. I've had these tin whistles sitting in a drawer for almost 20 years and recently learned to play some folk tunes from my father's Scottish heritage, that has always tugged my heartstrings as a Robertson. The opera will resume in the fall, but in the meantime, you know where to find me. Sitting here with just my voice and my tin whistle, with my Dad at the oars, embracing the simple joy of making music while riding on the bow of a tiny boat. Thanks, Clarabelle the rowboat for the inspiration, and for spreading the joy of the simple things in life!' -Katie, March 2020